Unfettered Letters

Animals in disaster

I would like to express my appreciation to the city of Independence and its departments of Emergency Preparedness and Animal Control for the recent training in animal rescue in times of natural disaster that they provided.

Hurricane Katrina demonstrated that the ability to save human lives when disaster strikes is directly connected to the willingness and ability to save the lives of pets.

The residents of Independence should be proud that their community has organized the first and so far only recognized Disaster Animal Response Team in the area. The other communities in vicinity need to follow suit.

In times of disaster, lives are saved by neighbors helping neighbors. In the Kansas City area, we’re fortunate to have such a good neighbor as Independence to lead the way in emergency animal rescue preparedness.

Rand Souden
Kansas City

Help with stolen vehicles

Two vehicles recently were stolen from my business. About two weeks later, a friend and I drove right up on one of them. The vehicle took off, with us following.

We called 911 in Kansas City and told them we were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle. The dispatcher was rude and said Kansas City could not help us. The dispatcher said to call back when the vehicle stopped and then hung up.

We called 911 again, not believing what we heard. This time we got Independence police, and they provided assistance. One of the two criminals was apprehended, and the vehicle was returned.

Residents of Kansas City should be embarrassed with the police and dispatch force we have.

Joe Weir
Independence

Jackson County priorities

We’re getting a new Jackson County executive this year. Let’s hope that his priorities will be straighter than Katheryn Shields’.

My husband is a Jackson County sheriff’s deputy. He patrols areas ranging from urban to rural. Sometimes his nearest backup is much too far away for my comfort.

What’s even more discomforting is that the sheriff’s office’s portable radios simply don’t work in much of the county. Regardless what peril may be facing him or the residents of Jackson County, there are times when my husband cannot call for help.

The solution to this problem would be to install several repeater towers throughout the county. Wouldn’t that be a more prudent way to spend county funds than a self-important ceiling painting or elaborate goodbye parties?

I’m hoping that Mike Sanders, the new county executive, will fix this and other problems in the county.

Amy Barnes
Independence

Program for gifted

Innovation, opportunity

Thank you so much for the wonderful coverage of the PEGS at Red Bridge Elementary School (12/27, Local, “Shh ... geniuses at work”).

Both of my children were lucky enough to go through the program with Ms. Jewell, Ms. Isbell and the staff at Red Bridge. The Center Middle School teacher, Melinda Merrill, received the Crystal Apple award for excellence in continuing the program on through eighth grade at the campus off 103rd Street and Holmes Road.

Your coverage of the Grandview, Hickman Mills and Center districts’ consortium has always been positive and appreciated.

Thank you for taking interest in and supporting this incredibly innovative educational opportunity, particularly as we approach school board elections and continually seek funds through levy elections in south Kansas City. Bravo!

Penny Selle
Kansas City

Nothing else like it

Thank you for the wonderful article on the Kansas City Regional Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students (PEGS).

This is truly an unknown jewel in the Missouri public school system. There is nothing remotely like it in the Kansas City area. My husband and I proudly tell people all the time that we moved from Overland Park to Kansas City — for the schools.

The article failed to mention that PEGS continues at Center Middle School under the fabulous Melinda Merrill and that there is hope for a high school program soon.

I would hope that other Missouri districts would consider this opportunity to not leave profoundly gifted students behind. Being bored in class can lead to poor grades and bad behavior. I would also remind them that the students’ test scores are credited to their home districts.

Those interested in learning more about PEGS can check out www.center.k12.mo.us/rb/school/PEGS_files/frame.htm

Stacy Wright
Kansas City

Nonviolent drug offenders

As I drove through Kansas City recently, I was shocked by a billboard headlined “Stop Snitching” and “HR 3072.” As an advocate for nonviolent drug prisoners, I applaud the organization that put up that billboard.

American taxpayers spend billions of dollars to house nonviolent drug felons convicted of drug conspiracy by perjured testimony. We don’t call it that. The government would never charge its own witnesses with perjury. But that’s what it is.

In a conspiracy case, a prosecutor often dangles the hope of leniency in front of other defendants, even sentenced felons, if they will tell the court what the prosecutor thinks is true. He can do this because mandatory sentencing laws preordain the sentence according the charges he brings. Drug conspiracy requires no evidence, just the testimony of a person under the thumb of the prosecutor.

HR 3072 is a bill in Congress to revive the federal parole system.

John Chase
Adviser, The November Coalition
(www.november.org)
Palm Harbor, Fla.

Stem-cell research

When reading about state Sen. Matt Bartle’s attempt to undo the passage of Amendment 2, I fumed with disappointment that my vote and rights as a Missouri resident seemed invalid.

This should be a closed issue. I feel betrayed by our legislators. I will e-mail them of my disappointment, but for what purpose? Jefferson City is not interested in the people of Missouri. Rather, its politicians serve as Big Brother, telling the people how to think and what to believe.

My service to this country in the armed services, and my service as a teacher and a community volunteer, have all been walked on.

Barry Kennedy
Kansas City

Missing from pardons

This year two border control agents shot a fleeing drug smuggler in the buttocks when he would not stop as ordered. The agents were tried in a federal court. The drug smuggler, an illegal alien, received full immunity to testify against these two border guards who were just doing their job.

Jose Alonso Compean was sentenced to 12 years in prison and Ignacio Ramon 11 years and one day despite a plea by their attorney for a new trial after three jurors said they were coerced into voting guilty in the case, according to a Washington Times story.

In October, several members of Congress wrote to President Bush asking for a full investigation. (None of those signing were from this area.)

Now, two months later, I read that President Bush has pardoned 16 criminals. One had a sentence of nine years for aiding cocaine distribution, followed by a six-year term for conspiracy to possess marijuana. Another involved conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. But were Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramon on the president’s list? No.

Please, if you are as outraged as I am, call or write your representatives, senators and president to correct his travesty.

Frances Semler
Kansas City

Johnson County GOP

News flash to the wishy-washy set of Johnson County: “Conservative” is not a dirty word.

The RINOs (Republicans in Name Only) in Johnson County and Whine-Os at The Star have been waxing apoplectic ever since Phill Kline was elected to replace the turncoat Paul Morrison for Johnson County district attorney.

It has been a month. It’s a done deal. Get over it already.

Just like the Democrats who could not accept the presidential election results of 2000 and 2004, these crybabies drone on and on. The spoiled rotten should find an adult-sized pacifier, a corner (or preferably a spider hole) and stay there until the next election.

Finally, to the RINOs who are going to take their “loyalties” elsewhere in 2008: I say fine. Who needs you? You were never the loyal Republicans you claimed to be in the first place.

Many times I’ve had to hold my nose and vote for the “moderate” because I certainly didn’t want the Democrat in office. There should be a clear difference, not a blurry line between the two parties and their candidates. Being a so-called moderate Republican is nothing more than being “Democrat lite.”

Pam Zubeck
Leawood

Metsker not good choice

The Republican precinct committeemen, following their nonsensical selection of Phill Kline as Johnson County district attorney, have continued their policy of blatant disregard for the voters’ wishes in selecting Ronnie Metsker to replace state Rep. Ed O’Malley (12/27, Local, “Metsker chosen for House”).

Rep. O’Malley was a voice of reason in an increasingly shrill Kansas House, and those who re-elected him were disappointed that he resigned shortly after his election.

We had hoped, though, that his replacement would be someone with credentials suited to this important job. Mission Mayor Laura McConwell was eminently qualified by her past and current government activities.

However, the precinct committeemen selected instead someone whose only employment history seems to be running a religious organization. Kansas needs less intrusion of religion into state matters and more focus on responsible governance.

This action by the Republicans has increased the likelihood that they will lose that House seat in 2008.

Though I’m a Democrat, I voted for Ed O’Malley. But I will never again cross party lines, regardless of how good the candidate might be in the “other” party, because the rest of that party can not be trusted.

J.D. Grebe
Roeland Park

Wedding ceremonies

My wife called my attention to the newspaper account of a wedding held recently. The article reported that, as part of the ceremony, the couple released 100 doves.

As a clergyman, some wedding expert will have to explain to me what releasing 100 doves has to do with a Christian wedding.

We are only left to imagine how many other superfluous — and expensive — things were done to attempt to make this wedding a success. What makes a successful wedding is a successful marriage.

In today’s world of hungry and hopeless people, to spend the money to release 100 doves tells two things about our society: We have money, and we have no moral compass.

Rev. W.C. Simmer
Blue Springs